Francis Collins, champion of faith and science, awarded Templeton Prize
Francis Collins, world-renowned geneticist and director of the National Institutes of Health, is the 2020 recipient of the Templeton Prize. The award, valued at $1.3 million, honors individuals who use scientific advancements to answer the deepest questions related to humanity’s existence and purpose.
Collins is perhaps best known for leading the Human Genome Project, which successfully mapped and sequenced the 3 billion DNA letters that compose the human genetic instruction book, and for advocating for the holistic integration of Christian faith and science. Today he is the longest-serving director in the history of the NIH, the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world.
The prize has been awarded to Collins as he and his agency are at the forefront of work to develop treatments for the novel coronavirus. The award also comes as religious leaders in the United States have quarreled with politicians and public health experts over the proper balance between faith and science, with some Christian pastors advocating for opening their churches against the recommendations of health officials.
